Apparatus for open-end spinning

ABSTRACT

In an open-end spinning apparatus including a rotatably mounted break-up roller member and a rotatably mounted spinning rotor member, only one of the members is directly driven while the other member is not directly connected to any drive unit and is indirectly driven by forces produced by the directly driven member while the two members are prevented from physically contacting one another. Preferably, one member carries a multiple-pole magnet and the other member is made of electrically conductive material.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,910,023 Miiller Oct. 7, 1975 [54] APPARATUS FOR OPEN-END SPINNING 3,732,681 5/1973 Kutscher et al 57/58.95 3,757,506 9/1973 Kutscher et a1 57/58.95 [75] Inventor Muller Bremen-Sum, 3,774,386 11/1973 Kutscher et al 57/58.95 Germany 3,793,820 2/1974 Rajnoha et a] 57/58,89 pxssigneeZ Fried. pp Gesellschaft 3,891,075 10/1974 KUtSChCl' et al 57/58.9l

beschrankter Haftung, Essen, Germany Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes [22] Filed, Sept 30 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmSpencer & Kaye [21] Appl. No.: 511,306

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data In an open-end spinning apparatus including a rotat- Nov. 17, 1973 Germany 2357514 ably mounted -"P roller member and a rotatably mounted spinning rotor member, only one of the 52 US. Cl. 57/58.95; 57/58.89; 57/58.9l; members is directly driven while the other member is 57/92 not directly connected to any drive unit and is indi- [51] Int. z D01" 1/12; DOIH H2O; DOIH 1/22 rectly driven by forces produced by the directly driven [58] Field of Search 57/58.89-58.95, member While the two members are Prevented from 57 92 00 0 0 0 physically contacting one another. Preferably, one member carries a multiple-pole magnet and the other [5 References Cited member is made of electrically conductive material.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 2,932,152 4/1960 Jackson 57/101 X Sheet 1 of 2 U8. Patent Oct. 7,1975

US. Patent 00. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,910,023

APPARATUS FOR OPEN-END SPINNING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for open-end spinning of the type in which fibers are broken up by means of a break-up roller which is disposed at least approximately coaxially with the spinning rotor and are then supplied to the spinning rotor, where they are spun into a continuous length of thread or yarn.

In known open end spinning devices, the break-up roller as well as the spinning rotor are provided with their own individual drives; so that the break-up roller can be caused to rotate independently of the spinning rotor.

The use of two independent drives is expensive, however. Furthermore, the drive for the break-up roller requires a number of special structural features which, inter alia, interfere with operability of the spinning device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for open-end spinning which does not have the above-described drawbacks.

This is accomplished, according to the invention, by mounting the break-up roller so that it does not have a separate drive and by providing elements for causing the breakup roller to be driven by the spinning rotor without physically contacting it.

Such indirect drive for the break-up roller can be re alized by the generation of flow and force fields which become effective between the driving part, e.g. the spinning rotor, and the driven part, e.g. the break-up roller. Thus, for example, the rotational movement of air produced by the spinning rotor can be utilized to drive the break-up roller.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the two parts, which rotate in the same direction the spinning rotor or the break-up roller is provided with a device for producing alternating magnetic effects in the facing surface of the respective other part.

Advantageously, at least one of the surfaces of the break-up roller which faces the spinning rotor is provided with one or a plurality of permanent magnets and the spinning rotor is made of an electrically conductive material. It is particularly advantageous for the spinning rotor to be backed by a ferromagnetic material.

When, for example, a multiple pole permanent magnet is disposed in the break-up roller the relative move ment between the driving part and the driven part induces eddy currents in the electrically conductive spinning rotor material so as to effect a magnetic coupling between the spinning rotor and the break-up roller.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the break-up roller may be the driving part and the spinning rotor the driven part.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the parts is mounted so that the distance between the surface of the permanent magnet of the break-up roller facing the spinning rotor and the associated countersurface of the spinning rotor is adjustable. By varying the distance of the surfaces of the spinning rotor and the break-up roller, which are in interaction with one another, it is possible, in a simple manner, to change the degree of coupling between the two rotating parts and to regulate it, for example, in dependence on the rate of rotation of the break-up roller.

The change in spacing between surfaces which are in mutual interaction can be made possible by arranging the break-up roller to be displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the spinning rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an open-end spinning device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODINIENTS The open-end spinning device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 essentially includes a spinning rotor 1 and a break-up roller 2 arranged coaxially with the spinning rotor. The spinning rotor 1 is supported,'by means of its hollow rotor shaft 1, in a housing 4 on roller bearings 3. Shaft 1' is connected, via bolt 5 disposed between the two roller bearings, with a suitable: drive unit, for example an electric motor (not shown).

The break-up roller 2, which in part extends into spinning rotor 1, is mounted on two roller bearings 6 to be freely rotatable about an axle 7. The axle itself is supported in a housing 8 which is fixed to housing 4.

The axle whose threaded section 7 engages in a threaded bore 8 of housing 8 can be moved in the axial direction by rotating it, for example with the aid of a slot at its exposed end. Unintended displacement of axle 7 is prevented by a safety nut 10 which is screwed onto threaded portion 7' at the outside of housing 8 and which engages a spring ring or lock washer 9.

The fiber material 1 1 to be spun into a thread or yarn is furnished to the break-up roller through an entrance bore 12 in housing 8 and is broken up on the roller 2 into individual fibers. As a result of centrifugal forces and the flow of air, these fibers then reach a fiber collection trough 1" of the spinning rotor l.

The fibers collected in the fiber collection trough are removed in a known manner as yarn 14 through a stationary guide tube 13 disposed in the bore of rotor shaft 1' and fastened to housing 4, this being effected with the aid of two conveying rollers 17 driven in respectively opposite directions.

A multiple pole permanent magnet 15 is disposed in breakup roller 2 at a definedaxial spacing 16 from frontal face 1" of spinning rotor 1 and at least the part of rotor 1 which defines face 1"" is made of electrically conductive, and possibly ferromagnetic, material. Such materials are for example aluminum, copper, copper alloys and mild steel.

Once the spinning rotor 1 is caused to rotate by driving force applied via belt 5, a relative movement is produced between the rotor wall 1" and the permanent magnet 15 and this movement induces eddy currents in the electrically conductive rotor material and, if the rotor material is ferromagnetic, additionally produces magnetic fields. The eddy currents and/or magnetic fields generate a magnetic force effect between the spinning rotor 1 and the break-up roller 2 which causes the break-up roller to rotate.

The rate of rotation of the break-up roller is determined, on the one hand, by the combing, or break-up, moment to be produced and the friction in bearings 6 and, on the other hand, by the magnetic follow-up moment of the spinning rotor l which can be set by adjusting spacing 16.

North and south poles N and S. are formed by suitable polarized regions of the disc-shaped permanent magnet 15. Seen in the peripheral direction, a north pole N is always followed by a south pole S, and vice versa, as shown in FIG. 2. There are no discernible separating lines between the individual poles.

In a modification of the illustrated embodiment, the alternating magnetic effect between the spinning rotor 1 and the break-up roller 2 can also be produced by permanent magnets provided in the cylindrical surface of part 2, these permanent magnets being used in addition to permanent magnet 15.

If a continuous variability in the axial position of axle 7 is required, it can be connected to the pistion of a hydraulic cylinder assembly via a suitable connection, for example a cardan joint or universal joint. In this case, the pairs of threads 7', 8' are replaced by a suitable movable fitting between axle 7 and housing 8.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for open-end spinning and including two parts mounted for coaxial rotation in the same direction and constituting, respectively, a break-up roller for breaking up a stream of fibers and a spinning rotor arranged to receive fibers which have been broken up by the break-up roller and to spin them into a length of yarn, the improvement comprising: direct drive means connected for directly rotating only one of said parts; and indirect drive means connected to at least one of said parts for causing the part not directly rotated by said drive means to be rotated exclusively by the rotation of said part which is directly driven by said drive means, while preventing physical driving contact between said parts.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means are connected for directly rotating said spinning rotor.

3. .An arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotor presents a surface which faces a surface of said roller, and said indirect drive means comprise means carried by one of said parts, at its said surface, for inducing cyclically alternating magnetic force effects in said surface of said other part, when relative rotation occurs between said parts.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said magnetic force effect means comprise at least one permanent magnet carried by said roller and said rotor is made of electrically conductive material at least in the region of its said surface.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said surfaces lie transversely to the axis of rotation of said parts and further comprising mounting means supporting one of said parts for movement in a direction to adjust the'distance between said surfaces.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said mounting means support said roller for movement along its axis of rotation. 

1. In apparatus for open-end spinning and including two parts mounted for coaxial rotation in the same direction and constituting, respectively, a break-up roller for breaking up a stream of fibers and a spinning rotor arranged to receive fibers which have been broken up by the break-up roller and to spin them into a length of yarn, the improvement comprising: direct drive means connected for directly rotating only one of said parts; and indirect drive means connected to at least one of said parts for causing the part not directly rotated by said drive means to be rotated exclusively by the rotation of said part which is directly driven by said drive means, while preventing physical driving contact between said parts.
 2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means are connected for directly rotating said spinning rotor.
 3. An arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotor presents a surface which faces a surface of said roller, and said indirect drive means comprise means carried by one of said parts, at its said surface, for inducing cyclically alternating magnetic force effects in said surface of said other part, when relative rotation occurs between said parts.
 4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said magnetic force effect means comprise at least one permanent magnet carried by said roller and said rotor is made of electrically conductive material at least in the region of its said surface.
 5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said surfaces lie transversely to the axis of rotation of said parts and further comprising mounting means supporting one of said parts for movement in a direction to adjust the distance between said surfaces.
 6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said mounting means support said roller for movement along its axis of rotation. 